Help - soft gherkins and shallots

[Trevor Holloway]

I pickled my first ever batch of gherkins ans shallots on Saturday.

Folloowed the instructions to heat but not boil in brine for 10 mins, allow to cool, put in the jar and cover with vinegar.

I now have 1 litre of mushy shallots and 1/2 litre of mushy gherkins - what have I done wrong ?

I will get more gherkins but no more shallots - very proud of growing them but then ruined in the preserving - not happy at all.

[Trevor Holloway]

[Columbus]

Hi Trevor,

If you added diced apple and beetroot you might have the start of a chutney recipe ??

Best of luck, Col

(Col, he say, "Glass half full")

[tilts]

Wnenever i pickle (which i have been doing for a number of years!) I never steep, salt or cook the veg. 
Gently heat the vinegar with whatever spices you fancy... Allow to cool.
Prepare veg, place in clean sterilized jars and cover with the spiced vinegar.
Try it...I have folk queing for my pickles year on year at the michaelmas fayre.

[flossie]

Really sorry to hear about your problem,  so disappointing after all that time growing them.  Sorry have not got any adviceon pickling. OH pickles all our gerkins. 

[triffid]

I've done onions and shallots for years but never cucumbers.
My method is to:

Cover the onions/shallots in cold salted water and leave for 24 hours.

Then dry the onions/shallots on an absolutely clean (hot-washed & sun-dried!) tea-towel.

Heat the vinegar with the spices (to infuse the spices) and allow it to cool.

Pack the onions/shallots into sterile jars (hot dishwash cycle will do this, or fill the jars with boiling water and let them stand for 10 mins -- careful when you empty them; I've scalded myself many times which is why I let the dishwasher do it now!

Pour the vinegar onto the onions/shallots & spoon in their fair share of the spices.

Lid on, hide jars in cool dark larder, wait 6 weeks, then eat!

I can't think why your recipe said heat the veg; that can't be right for a pickle where you want them to be crisp? V confusing!

Really sorry for you. (())

[Trevor Holloway]

I shall now be VERY wary of heating before pickling !

Oh well at least I have proved to myself I can grow shallots and there will be more gherkins.

[triffid]

Trevor -- I'm curious: where did you get that recipe?